Mitered Corner – Trinity Sermon
Trinity Sunday 2021
About thirty years ago, we had a priest that came to us from the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada. He was a Monk who had been written up in the Hamilton Spectator Newspaper. He had heard about the Independent Anglican Church, and decided to join us and was ensconced at the old St. George’s in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
At the time, we had just received a small family that lived in Lewiston, NY. Their Bishop had abandoned them because they were too small, so they prevailed upon us to hold Masses in Niagara Falls, NY., just across the river. Their Bishop agreed, and placed them in our care and we held our Masses in the Polish National Catholic Church which is just down the road from our present St. George’s Cathedral in Niagara Falls, NY.
The arrangement with the Priest/Monk, I can’t remember his name, was that each Sunday I would celebrate and he would preach the sermon. All went well until as we were crossing the Rainbow Bridge on a Trinity Sunday. Father told me that he was unable to preach because he didn’t understand the Doctrine of the Trinity and that I was now drafted, as it were, into service. So, I sermonized and at this juncture, I can’t remember what I said, but Father was delighted and said that he now had a new understanding of the Doctrine of the Trinity, and he thanked me for a good sermon. Sadly, I am still unable to remember what I said, but I am certain the Spirit gave me utterance.
The truth, to be sure, is the fact that the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is a Divine Mystery and it is not given to us to understand, but rather, to serve as a spiritual conduit between the Faithful in Christ and God Himself as it connects us to the love of our Creator and leads us to the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary.
Many learned scholars have made efforts to divine the Mystery of the Doctrine of the Trinity, and have delighted us with such comparisons as the sun, because we can see it, feel its warmth and see its light. Another, is the comparison to an egg, shell, yolk and white. Lord, have mercy! Give your need to figure out a mystery that we are not meant to understand, and put that energy required to put your Faith into action, and surrender to the Will and Love of God as it has been given to us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It may be difficult for many to understand, but Faith requires energy! I pray that the Spirit has once again given me utterance, and that none of us has a better understanding of that which we are not meant to apprehend, but accept by being a Follower of the Way. Amen.
The specter of the Residential Schools has once again raised its ugly head. The Government will apologise on behalf of a system that permitted terrible abuse of children. It is impossible to take this action and admit to a wrong‑doing that should never have happened in the first instance. To apologise is, in fact, tantamount to a forgiveness of evil for the actions of our forebears. Jesus is clear with His warning which punishes those that would harm a child.
‘Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.’ Matthew 18.
It is unjust for us as Christians to stand by and do nothing about this evil which was committed against the Children of God, mostly First Nations. It is sad, but correct that at this time and place in history, it is impossible to right the wrongs that have been done in our Dominion, now today extending from coast to coast. So where does our responsibility lie? First, we can pray that this evil can never again be perpetrated on innocent victims. The second thing that can and should be done, is for the Government of Canada to do all in its power and prevue, to supply our indigenous people with clean drinking water, not as any form of reparation, but simply put, as justice.